Awning



F. G. DUEWEKE Aug. 7, 1945.--

Awnme` Filed Ju'ly 17, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Au'g. 7, '1945.

F. G. DUEWEKE AWNING v Filed July 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pa'tentecl Aug. 47, '1.945

UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE AWNING Florian G. Dueweke, Detroit, Mich. Application July 17, 1944, Serial No. 545,207

(Cl. 1GO-62) 5 Claims.

My invention pertains to closures for openings in buildings, and more particularly to nreproof blackout shutters and awnings.

It is an object of my inventionI to lprovide a I closure for building openings which. is of a simplied light weight construction and which is convenient and reliable in operation.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a telescoping shutter or awning which is substantially self-balancing so that very slight eiort is required to draw it down in a closing position over the building opening to bev closed and protected, or to hoist it to a telescoped extending position projecting inclined away from the building to serve as an awning for shading and protecting the building opening from sunlight and heat and preventing any light in the building from being visible from the outside thereof, and which may also be made of reproof material for use as a blackout shutter for protecting buildings during conditions of fire or air raids.

- ifled arrangement for pivotally mounting the It is a further object of my invention to provide a combined shutter awning construction comprising a pair of upper telescoping members, means for pivotally hinglng the upper ends of said upper telescoping members in spaced parallel relation on a building above an opening to be protected, a, lower telescoping member asso and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration oi! the specillcation in conjunction with the drawings disclosing speciic embodiments of my invention, similar reference characters being-applied to corresponding elements, and in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevational half view of an installation showing the closure retracted and inclined away from the building as an awning;

Fig. 2 ls a vsectional Fig. 3 is a iront elevational half view showing the closure extended and closedV down over the building opening as a blackout shutter;

v iew takenlon line 2-2 upper end of the closure for a steel window sash construction.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, my combination shutter and awning is shown installed on the wall II oi a building over an opening I3 to be protected, which opening may be either a window or doorway. My improved shutter and awning comf prises a pair of upper telescoping members I5 connected together at the upper ends in spaced parallel relation by an upper cross-piece II and pivotally hinged on the building wall over the building opening. in any suitable manner. To prevent metal sliding against metal, the usual felt packing is provided.

Although my improved shutter-awning may be made of any suitable material for a convenient light-weight construction suitable to snugly close made of metal and, as may be seen in Fig. 5, light weight channel cross-section structural members are preferably utilized for this purpose. The

upper ends of the telescoping members l5 are secured together through a cross-plece'fcasing Il, also of metal, and are disposed in a spaced parallel relationfwith open sides of the channels toward each other. Il may be formed by a front plate I1 and a top plate 2Iextending across and between the front, and the top or end portions respectivelyof the two upper telescoping members '|5. The front and top walls of the upper cross-piece may be formed of a single'sheet of metal, suitably bent,

. and secured to the telescoping side members in any suitable manner, as by welding.'

For usual non-metallic window sash buildings, a hingevstrap 23v is secured thereto `in a. usual manner, as by lag screws 25, for pivotally journalling a hinge rod or pin 21 which isz-secured to the upper and innermost corner of the cross-piece, as,V by welding, or in any suitable manner.

The upper l cross-piece casing` On each upper telescoping member is slidably disposed a lower telescoping member 29 which also has a substantially channel cross-section but larger than the upper member, as shownv in Fig. 5, so that the lower telescoping member may slide freely up and down over the upper member. The open sides of the channel cross-section of the lower members 29 are also turned together, in the same direction as the open sides of the upper members, and the edges of the side anges of the lower members are turned in to overlap the innermost edges of the side flanges of the same upper members so that the upper and the lower telescoping members are held together and cannot become separated except by pulling apart axially.

As shown in Fig. 5, the side flange oi.' each lower telescoping member most remote from the building wall is provided with an extended portion or flange 3I which is turned toward the corresponding spaced member and parallel to the buildingwall, for receiving a pivot angle iron 33 secured thereto, as by welding. In each angle iron strip 33 are journalled the ends of a -plurality of shafts 35 disposed horizontally in spacedparallel relation. between the two lower telescoping members, as shown 'more clearly in Figs. l and 2. Each shaft 35 carries a vane or panel 31 extending horizontally rbetween the two telescoping lower side members 29.l When 4the shutter is telescoped together and extending inclined from the building. as shown in Fig. 2, the vanes 31 open apart and hang in substantially vertical spaced apart positions. To operate the vanes positively and uniformly to such open positions a control bar 39 is provided which is connected pivotally to each pivoted vane, as by a lug 4I struck out of or welded to the vane and secured to the bar by a pivot pin 43. A tension spring 45 is preferably secured to the upper end of the control bar 39 and extending to the upper end of the lower telescoping member 29 continuously urges :the pivoted vanes to open position so long as the awning is inclined out from the building. The size and spacing of the pivoted vanes 31 is such as to engage snugly together when closed and the closer bar 39 coming into contact with the building wall, forces the vanes into the closed position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A large tension spring 41 is provided which extends down each side through the entire length of each telescoping pair of upper and lower members, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Each side spring 41 is attached to the lower end ofthe lower telescoping member 29 and the top wall 2l on the upper end of the upper telescoping member and is selected of a suitable strength for Supporting or balancing the weight of the lower telescoping member and associated vanes, so that the spring automatically raises the awning, when not latched, and very slight eiort is required for taking it down and closing the shutter over the opening to be protected.

Fig. 5 shows guide strips 49 secured extending along the inside of each upper telescoping mem- ,Iber I5 in spaced parallel relation. "I'he guide strips 49 form guide spaces opening inwardly toward each opposite telesco'plng member for receiving and supporting the ends of slidable vanes or -panels 5I extending horizontally between the two upper telescoping members, as shown in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that when the lower side members 29 are telescoped up over the upper side members I5, in retracted positions for forming an awning, the upper ends' of the lower telescoping members push all the slidable vanes or panels up together into the upper cross-piece -casing in a side-by-side relation.

portions, between guide strips at the ends, are

reversely bent to form laterally projecting flanges 53 which interlock and prevent the vanes from sliding relatively so far apart as to form an opening between. M The laterally bent upper edge of the outermost vane 5I engages a ange 55 formed by bending inwardly the lower edge of the outer side wall I1 of the cross-piece casing between the side channel members. The lower sliding vane or panel5l has lugs 52 struck out and turned from the two lower corners and apertured to pass loosely over the ends of the uppermost shaft 35 for positively drawing the sliding panels down when the lower telescoping side members -29 move down. In the closed position of the shutter, the control bar 39 strikes the'building wall II along the side of the opening, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This turns the pivoted vanes 31 to continguous and snug lnterengaged positions forming a closure, as may be seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

A pair of stabilizer bars 51 are provided and one end of each stabilizer bar is pivotally secured on a pin 59 in a pivot bracket 6I which may be a U-shaped member secured to the bottom wall 63 of the bottom cross-piece casing. 'I'he other end of each stabilizer bar 51 is pivotally connected to the building wall II as by a pivot pin 35 passing through a bracket lug 61 thereon.v The lengths of the stabilizer bars 51 and the positions of the wall clamps 61 are so selected that when the telescoping side members vare extended and drawn toward the building to cover the opening, the stabilizer bars are turned down in a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, being sure to see that they are about 1/2" off center to be freely moved by the spring. When the awning is set, as shown in Fig. 2, the vstabilizer bars 51 are swung out to a position which', from the building, may .preferebalybe slightly inclined upward, or above horizontal.

To secure the shutterV down in a closed position, any suitable lock or latch means may be utilized.

A,l'or convenience a gravity latch 69 is preferably provided, as shown in Fig.- 4 mounted in the lower cross-piece casing on a pivot pin 1I and bracket 12, with the free end toward the building. A hook 12 provided on the lower side of the free eno of the latch is turned down and back for hooking over an anchor bolt 13 projecting from the sill or wall adjacent the lower edge of the building opening to be covered. On windows, one such latch may be provided at the center, and on doorways, two such latches are preferably provided, one at each side.

Fig. 6 shows a modified mounting for installing my combined shutter-awning on a building having a steel sash construction supported by angle irons 15 from a plate 11 abutting and connected to an I-beam structural member 19. On such an installation the hinge bolt or rod 19' for supporting the shutter is secured to and along the upper front edge of the upper cross-piece casing I1, as by welding thereto. The hinge rod 19' is pivotally journalled in a hinge plate 8| which extends across the under surface of 4the plate 11 to which it is secured in any suitable manner, as by welding.

It is apparent that within the scope of. the invention, modifications and differentarrangements may be made other than herein disclosed, and the present disclosure isillustrative merely, the invention comprehending variationsth'ereof.'

l. A combinedshutter and awningcomprising, a pair of upper telescoping members, means for pivotally hinging the upper ends of said upper telescoping members in spacedparallel relation on a -building vaboveran openingto" be protected,` a lower telescoping member associatedin a sliding telescoping relation with each uppermember, a pluralityA of relatively movable shutter vanes -extending ina horizontal `direction between the parallel spaced telescopingmembers `for protecting the building opening'either when said telescoping members `are extended or retracted, a plurality of guides provided on the inside surfaces of the upper telescopingmembers for `slidably supporting the ends of the associated vanes extending therebetween, operative vas, the lower members are moved up to push all said slidable vanes together ina stacked side-by-side relation and alternatively releasing the vanes to slide down said guides as the lower telescoping members move to extended positions, and means for limiting the relative downward movements of 4the sliding vanes to form a contiguous edge-to-edge assembly when in the extended positions.

2. A combined shutter and awning comprising, a. pair ofy upper telescoping members, means for pivotally hinging the upper ends of said upper telescoping members in spaced parallel relation on a building above an opening to be protected, a lower telescoping member associated in a sli-ding telescoping relation' with each upper member, a plurality of relatively movable shutter vanes extending in a horizontal direction between the parallel spaced telescoping members for protecting the building opening either when said telescoping members are extended or retracted, a plurality of guides provided on the inside surfaces of the upper telescoping members for slidably supporting the ends of the associated vanes extending therebetween operative as the lower members are moved up to push all said slidable vanes together in a stacked side-by-side relation and alternatively releasing the vanes to slide down said guides as the lower telescoping members move to extended positions, means for limiting the relative downward movements of the slidlng vanes to form a contiguous edge-to-edge assembly when in the extended positions, a pair of stabilizer bars, means pivotally connecting one end of the stabilizer bars to the lower ends of the respective lower telescoping members, -wall pivot means pivotally securing the other end of each stabilizer bar to the wall of the building on respective sides of the opening to be protected, the stabilizer bars being turned down to a substantially vertical position when said telescoping members are extended down over the opening,

v and when the telescoping members are telescoped together the stabilizer `bars being swung out away from the wall to a position with the swinging end i slightly above a horizontal through the pivot end for holding the retracted assembly inclined out from the building to serve as an awning.

3. In combination in a combined shutter and awning, a pair of upper telescoping members, means for pivotally hinging the upper ends of said upper telescoping members in spaced parallel relation on a building above an openingto be protected, a lower telescoping member associated in a sliding telescoping relation with each upper member,l afplurality of; relatively movable shutter vanes extending in a, horizontal. direction between therespective pairs of .parallel spaced telescoping membersfor protecting the building opening either whenvsaid` telescoping members are extended i or retracted, a spring connectedbetween the upper end of each upper telescoping member and the vlower end of each lower telescoping member slidably'associated therewith for balancing the weight of the lower telescoping members and the associated vanes, each of the vanes extending between the pair' of lower telescoping members being pivotally supported-therebetween, a closer bar pivotallyv connected between the pivotalvanes for-simultaneously opening all said vanes tosubstantially vertical and spaced apart positions when moved out from the building and for simultaneouslyturning all the pivoted vanesto contiguous closed positions when moved down toward thebuilding'for covering the opening-to be protected, a plurality of guides provided on the inside surfaces of the upper telescoping members for slidably supporting thel ends of the associated vanes extending therebetween and movable with the lower telescoping members as said lower members are moved up to push all said slidable vanes together in a stacked side-by-side relation and releasing the vanes to slide down said guides as the lower telescoping members move to extended positions, interlocking means between the sliding vanes to limit the relative downward movements thereof to form a contiguous edge-toedge assembly when in the extended positions, a pair of stabilizer bars, means pivotally connecting one end of the stabilizer bars to the lower ends of the respective lower telescoping members, wall pivot means pivotally securing the other end of each' stabilizer bar to the wall of the building on respective sides of the opening to be protected, the stabilizer bars being turned down to a substantially vertical position when said telescoping members are extended down over the opening', and when the telescoping members are telescoped together the stabilizer bars being swung out away from the wall to a position with the swinging end slightly above a horizontal through the pivot end for holding the retracted assembly inclined out from the Ibuilding to serve as an awning.

4. In a combined shutter and awning, a pair of upper telescoping members, said members having substantially channel cross-sections opening toward each other, means for pivotally hinging the upper ends of said upper telescoping members in spaced parallel relation on a building above an opening to be protected, a pair of lower telescoping members each of a substantially larger channel cross-section associated in a sliding telescoping relation over the respective upper members, a plurality of relatively movable shutter vanes extending in a horizontal direction between the respective parallel spaced 4telescoping members for protecting the` building opening both when said telescoping members are extended and retracted, a plurality of guide strips provided on the inside surfaces of the upper telescoping members for slidably receiving @the ends of the associated vanes extending therebetween and movable with the lower telescoping members as said lower members are moved up thereby pushing all said slidable vanes together in a stacked side-byside relation or releasing the vanes to slide down said guides las the lower telescoping members move to extended positions, and inter-locking means between the sliding vanes to limit the relative downward movements of the sliding vanes to form a contiguous edge-to-edge assembly when in the extended positions.

5. In combination in a combined shutter and awning, a, pair of upper telescoping members, said members having substantially channel cross-sections, means for pivotally hinging the upper ends of said upper telescoping members in spaced parallel relation, channels opening toward each other on a building above an opening to be protected, a pair of lower telescoping members each of la sub` stantially larger channel cross-section associated in a sliding telescoping relation over the respective upper members, a plurality of relatively movable shuttei` vanes extending horizontally between the parallel spaced telescoping members for Iprotecting the building opening both when said telescoping members are extended and retracted, a plurality of kguide strips provided on the inside surfaces of the upper telescoping members for slidably receiving the ends of the associated vanes extending horizontally therebetween, means movable with the lower telescoping members for. pushing al1 said slidable vanes together in a stacked side-by-side relation and alter- -natively releasing the vanes to slide down said guides as the lower telescoping members move to extended positons, interlocking means between the sliding vanes to limit the relative downward movements of the sliding vanes to form a contig'- uous edge-to-edge assembly when in the extended positions, a pair of stabilizer bars, means pivotally connecting one end of the stabilizer bars to the lower ends of the respective lower telescoping members, wall pivot means pivotally securing the other end of each stabilizer bar to the wall of the building on respective sides of the opening to be protected, the stabilizer bars being turned down to alsubstantially vertical position when said telescoping members are extended down over the opening, and when the telescoping members are telescoped together the stabilizer bars being swung out away from the wall to a position with the swinging end slightly above a horizontal through the pivot end for holding the retracted assembly inclined out from the building to serve as an awning.

FLORIAN G. DUEWEKE. 

